My wife's ancestors - Kerr - Contents

John Manners Kerr

• References:
  • Census returns for Maesmor Hall, 1841-1901

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • Kerr family of Maesmor, [NRA] GB/NNAF/F8937, National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, Department of Collection Services
    • deeds and estate papers 1715-1938
    • see annual report 1969-70 pp56-7

  • LLOYD-JONES (formerly ALSTON) of Harrold Hill (formerly of Odell Castle) in [Burkes LG, 1952]

A miniature, inherited in the Kerr/Gibbon family, with written on the back: "Colonel Kerr?" (must be Col. John Manners Kerr).
This is a miniature painted by Florence Gibbon in 1899 as a copy of an unknown late 18th cent original portrait.
See alternate shot.

John Manners Kerr (see here and here),
of (by marriage) Maesmor, Denbighshire, N Wales,
and of "Thefreat House" (perhaps this is Trefnant House),
born 30th Oct 1766, or 1767,
descendant of Robert III, King of Scotland and of Henry I,
mar 1stly, pre-1793, to Isabella Errington [born c.1774, dau of George Errington] and had issue:

1. Mary (or Elizabeth) Kerr, born 2nd June 1793,
   mar 20th June 1816 to Justinian Alston, of Odell Castle, and think had issue.

2. John James Kerr of Maesmor,
   John James Manners Kerr, born 18th --- 1799, eldest son.

3. Frederick Kerr, born 6th Oct 1804,
   died 23rd Feb 1876, age 71 yrs, having had issue.

4. William Frederick Kerr, born 15th Nov 1806,
   vicar of Marston ----,
   mar 17th June 1834 to Agnes Morris and had issue,
   died 3rd Feb 1878, age 71 yrs.

he was Commander of Northampton Regiment of Fencible Infantry, 1794-1801, based in Ireland, listed as Colonel,
Isabella died 14th Oct 1808, age c.34 yrs,
he was Commander of 5th Royal Veteran Battalion 1810-14, listed as Lieutenant-General,
finished as General,

mar 2ndly, 14th Dec 1814, to Margaret Davies [born c.1770, Plas Issa, Edeirnion,
  dau of Hugh Davies of Penybont and Tyllcha, Edeirnion,
  by his wife Katherine Owen, heiress of Plas Issa, Edeirnion],
no issue,
this could be "Plas Isaf", Llangar parish, just S of Corwen, N Wales, see map,
see the fact that Margaret is buried at Llangar, also Plas Issa is sold to Vaughan of Rug, Corwen,
also the 1891 census of Llangar calls it "Plas Isa", though in 1851 census and 1871 census it is "Plas Isaf",
there are many other options though,
Gwynedd Archives records XD2/1305 and XD2/1306 indicate that Owen's Plas Issa was in Llandderfel parish,
(todo) see OWEN of Plas-Issa, Edeirnion, co. Merioneth, in [Burke's General Armory],

Lavinia Phillips says Margaret died Sept 1820, Plas Issa, age c.50 yrs,
and bur 20th Sept 1820, Llangar church, just S of Corwen, see map,
Peter Barns-Graham says Margaret died 15th Sept 1825, age c.55 yrs,
he inherited Plas Issa under her Will, and he sold the estate to Colonel Vaughan of Rug, Corwen,

mar 3rdly, 15th Jan 1829, Llangwm (W of Maesmor, see map and map) [him age 62 or 61, her age 52 or 53],
(todo) see The Cambrian newspaper, 24th Jan,
to Catherine Lloyd [born 1776 or 1777, descendant of Edward the Elder], obviously no issue,
she was co-heiress of Maesmor and Trefnant,

Kalendar of Gwyedd lists "John Manners Kerr, of Plas Issa, Esq., High Sheriff of Merionethshire 1st Feb 1838-9",
both listed as living Maesmor Hall in [Census, 1841], he is listed as "Army Pensioner", they have 8 servants,
he died 1st Apr 1843, Maesmor Hall, age 76 yrs, or 75 yrs,
(todo) see The Cambrian newspaper, 15th Apr,
bur Llangwm, monument there, (todo) see,
the church is now closed, church has been sold to a private owner, inside of church gutted, graveyard survives, this is now in the church parish of Llangwm (Dinmael),
no Kerr grave found in initial search of graveyard, Kerr monument might have been inside church, memorials inside church were probably moved to another church when it was sold,

Catherine is listed as widow, living Maesmor Hall, in [Census, 1851], 8 servants,
she died 3rd Apr 1859, Maesmor Hall, age 82 or 83 yrs,
bur Llangwm.

Coat of arms of "John Manners Kerr" (probably this one, though possibly his grandson John Manners Kerr).
Shows Ker motto "Tout droit" ("All right" or "Always right")
and Kerr motto: "Deus solamen" ("God is my comfort").

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Llangwm church

There was a monument to John Manners Kerr at Llangwm church, which must be the now disused church at Llangwm.

The disused church at Llangwm.
Photos 2009.
See larger and full size.
See similar shot and wider shot and wider shot.

The gutted interior of the church.
Photos 2009.
See larger and full size.
See similar shot and porch and porch (where a wall memorial survives).